Valve.



'L. A. MAPEL.

I VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.!915. 1,291,986, Patented Jan. 21,1919.

UNIT

sas ATENT orruon.

LEWIS A. MAPEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN'OR 'IO MAPEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

VALVE.

Original application filed April 16, 1915, Serial No. 21,815.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Divided and this application filed July 29, 1915. Serial No. 42,626.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS A. MAPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Valve, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves, and it consists of a valve which is of novel construction and arrangement, and a valve casing and mounting-embodying many novel and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation.

An object is to provide an improved valve mechanism comprising a tapering valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet passage, a tapering valve mounted in the valve chamber, a valve stem extending from one end of the valve and capable of manipulation'to adjust the valve in different positions, a wall closing the opposite end of the valve chamber and being out of contact with the end of the valve, and packing elements cooperating with the valve stem and adjustable to impart varying degrees of pressure against the valve stem to force the valve under such varying degrees of pressure toward the smaller end of the valve chamber, thus holding the valve at all times in proper position and compensating for-wear or variation which enables the valve to move to any different longitudinal positions within the valve chamber.

There are other objects and advantages to be obtained by my invention, and many other improved features of construction and arrangement of the parts, all of which will be apparent from the following detail description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to a fluid regulating device, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the valve casing having my improved valve mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 4 showing the valve which is adjustable selectively to admit to a single receptacle fluid from different supply passages.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 1 is a view looking toward the open ends of the inlet or supply passages.

Figs. 2 and 1 illustrate the valve mounted oppositely from the valve shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the valve housing and Valve, illustrating the packing devices by which the tapering valve is pressed toward the smaller end of the valve casing.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a ring which constitutes a part of the packing devices and which is interposed between the elastic packing and a bearing surface on the valve whereby the compressed packing forces the valve toward the small end of the valve casing.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the position of the valve operating handle relative to other parts of the apparatus in which the valve is intended to be used.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with fluid regulating devices by which it is desired to admit fluids selectively from different supply passages, but it will be apparent that the valve may be used in other embodiments. Therefore, in describing my invention as adapted for admitting fluids from different supply passages, it will be understood that such an embodiment is merely illustrative, and that the valve may be applied to various other uses.

This application is a division of my prior application for patent for fluid regulating device, filed April 16,1915, Serial No. 21,815, patented April 18, 1916, No. 1,179,539, and assigned to Mapel Manufacturing Company, of St. Louis, Missouri.

In the specific embodiment illustrated the valve casing 1 is tapering, and is provided with a tapering chamber 2, the smaller end of which is closed by an integral wall 3. The opposite and larger end of the valve casing is open, and is provided with a portion 4 which is interiorly threaded. In the specific embodiment shown the valve casing is provided with a number of inlet or sup ply passages 5 which may be in the form of elongated slots as shown, or in any other desired shape. Each of the inlet or supply openings 5 communicates with a supply pipe or passage 6, whereby liquid from different sources of supply may be selectively delivered to the valve by proper adjustment and manipulation of the valve as hereinafter explained. There is a single outlet or discharge passage 7 opening from one side of the valve casing into a larger passage 8. In the form shown the valve casing 1 with its closed end 3, the supply passages 6, and the discharge passage 8, are all formed in one integral part, so that the valve and its casing constitute an improved article of manufacture, which is complete in itself, and which may be produced and delivered for use in various embodiments. The passage 8, therefore, is preferably provided with an annular flange 9 having openings for the fastening devices 10 whereby the valve mechanism may be supported in connection with the receptacle 11 into which the liquid is discharged from the passage 8. The fastening devices 10 may be in the form of threaded lugs on the receptacle 11, in which case nuts 12 are screwed onto the devices 10 thus rigidly supporting the valve mechanism in its proper position.

The valve, in the particular form illustrated, includes a tapering tubular portion 13 fitting within the valve casing 1, and provided with an integral wall 14 closing the smaller end thereof, and an integral wall 15 closing the larger end thereof. The valve,

fits within the valve casing so that the end wall 14 of the valve is maintained some distance away from and out of contact with the end wall 3 of the casing, and the end wall 15 of the valve is maintained some distance away from and out of contact with the removable closure at the opposite end of the casing. This permits longitudinal or axial movement of the valve when such adjustment or movement may be necessary for the valve to conform to any variations or any wearing of the valve or the casing. The valve is provided with passages 16 and 17 which are arranged and formed so that when one of said passages is in registration with the passage 7 the other of said passages will be in registration or communication with one of the passages 5. The valve is capable of being turned so as to receive fluid from either of the passages 5, the fluid so received being delivered into the passage 7 \vl'ie 'w it is conveyed to the receptacle 11 or any other suitable receptacle. It will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2 that either of the passages 16 -or 17 may be placed in complete registration with one of the openings 5 so as to receive the entire quantity of fluid which could pass through the openings 5; or the valve may be adjusted so that the receiving openings 16 and 17 are in less than full registration with either of the openings 5, thus enabling the operator to vary the quantity of fluid passing through the valve, as well as to select the quality or kind of fluid passing through the valve by adjusting the valve to receivethe fluid from one or the other of said passages 5.

As hereinbefore stated the portion 4 of the valve casing is interiorly threaded. For closing the open end of the valve casing I provide a removable closure consisting preferably of a polygonal portion 18 provided with a circumferential flange 19 from which extends an annular exteriorly threaded portion 20. The threaded portion 20 is screwed into the threaded portion 4 and forms a hermetic seal or closure for the end of the valve casing, the flange portion 19 abutting closely against the end of the portion 4. The poly onal portion 18 is preferably provided so that a wrench or similar tool may be readily engaged therewith for the purpose of securing the closure to the valve casing or re-.

moving the closure therefrom. The polygonal portion 18 of the removable closure is in integral connection with a tubular part 21, which constitutes a bearing for a journal member on the valve as well as a box or container for the packing materials and elements. The closure thus constructed is in the form of a relatively long extension of the valve casing and thetubular part. 21,

which constitutes a bearing for the valve stem, extends through from the valve casing. The journal member 22 is integral with the large end wall 15 of the valve and extends into and has hearing within the tubular part 21, both parts being strengthened by this arrangement. From the outer end of the journal member 22 a valve stem 23 extends, said valve stem being coaxial with the tubular part 21 and of considerably less diameter than the interior diameter of said tubular part and of said journal member. A. circumferential shoulder 24 is thus formed around the valve stem 23 at the connection of said stem with said journal member.

As hereinbefore suggested the packing materials and elements are arranged so as to press the valve to its proper position within the valve casing. I also provide devices for preventing the packing from' becoming caught or fouled by any of the moving parts of the valve, and at the same time to render the packing more efficient. The packing ele- 25 fits closely against the interior of the tubular part 21, and the inner surface of said ring fits closely against the valve stem. The ring 25 is freely revoluble within the tubular part 21 and is also freely revoluble with respect to the valve stem and the shoulder 25. The outer wall 26 of said ring is beveled or dished, so that the wall of the ring and the periphery of the valve stem form the walls of an annular substantially V- shaped groove. Elastic packing material 27 is pressed into the tubular part 21 around the valve stem 23 and against the ring 25 and into the annular V-shaped groove formed by the wall of said ring and the periphery of the valve stem. For the purpose of com pressing the packing 27 I provide a sleeve 28 encircling the valve stem and extending into the tubular part 21 against the packing 27, so that by forcing said sleeve farther into the tubular part 21 the packing may be compressed to any desired extent. Obviously the compression of the packing and the foreing of the ring 25 against the shoulder 24 are effective to press the valve toward the smaller end of the valve casing, thus holding the valve out of contact with both ends of the valve casing, so that the valve contacts with the casing only on intermediate portions of the casing. The sleeve 28 is provided with an annular flange 29, which bears against the endof a cap 30 which is interiorly threaded and engages with exterior threads formed upon the tubular part 21. The cap 30 is preferably polygonal for convenient engagement by a wrench or the like so that said cap may be adjusted effectively to compress the packing and force the valve to closed position in the valve casing. In this way the valve may be kept in constant adjustment, and the desired pressure may be imparted to the valve under varying conditions by the simple manipulation of the cap which is adjustable to Vary the pressure imparted to the packing.

The valve stem extends a suitable dis-' tance beyond the cap 30 and is provided with a squared portion 31 at its extremity adapted to be received within a similarly shaped hole in a manually engageable operating device 32. In the form shown the device 32 is a lever, which preferably extends in the same direction with one of the openings 16 or 17 in the valve, so that the operator will at all times be informed of the position of said openings within the valve casing. It is obvious, however, that the operating device 32 may be in any other suitable form, and that the direction of the openings 16 and 17 may be otherwise indicated.

As shown in Fig. 7, the long closure and bearing for the valve stem extend a considerable distance from the valve casing so that the lever 32 which is on the end of the valve stem is supported beyond the plane of the end of an operating lever 47 which is a partof the device with which the present invention is intended to be used. By this construction the valve stem is given proper bearing andsupport a considerable distance from the valve body making the construction of proper strength.

The metallic valve and the casing are preferably subjected to treatment by vaporized zinc which penetrates and is absorbed by the metal. The zinc penetrating the metal becomes alloyed therewith to a sufficient depth to permit the surface of the valve and the surface of the valve casing, upon which the valve has bearing, to be ground so that there is perfect sealing contact between the valve and the casing. After the valve and the valve casing have been ground to form perfect bearing surfaces there remains a sufficient depth of the softened alloyed metal at the ground surfaces to render the valve and the casing completely non-corrodible and not subject to the usual variations of metal under the influence of varying temperatures of water. In this manner a bearing for the valve is produced which is greatly superior to any bearing composed of the usual hard metals, unsoftened by treatment and subject to corrosion.

The perfect sealing contact between the non-corrodible surfaces of the valve and the casing will be maintained at all times by the pressure imparted to the valve by the compressing packing devices and the valve will not become friction'ally locked nor will it become loose.

Ordinary cast iron or steel may be utilized as the metal and subjected to the non-corrodible treatment, thus dispensing with the necessity of employing the more expensive metals.

It will be understood that there may be variations within equivalent limits in the construction and arrangement of the parts comprising my improved valve and valve mounting, without departing from the principle and scope of the invention. It will be further understood that in describing my improved valve applied to a device for selectively admitting fluids from different sources of supply I do not limit myself to such use, but that I contemplate its application to various other uses.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Valve mechanism, comprising a tapering valve casing, a tapering valve body in the casing, a long closure for ne end of said casing extending relatively a considerable distance from the end of the casing and the valve body, a relatively long bearing member extending relatively a considerable distance beyond said closure, a relatively large journal member rigid with the end of the valve body journaled in said bearing member, a stem extending from the end of the journal member, packing within the bearing member around the stem bearing against the end specification in the presence of two subscribof the journal member, and a handle ating Witnesses.

tached to the end of said stem and s11 orted at relatively a considerable distance 25m the LEVIS MAPEL' 5 valve casing, as and for the purpose de- Witnesses: v

scribed. N. G. BUTLER,

In Witness whereof I have signed this JOHN D. RIPPEY.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

